China warns of ‘new arena for rivalry’ in space after US admits deploying orbital weapons

The Chinese military warned Thursday that space would enter a “new arena for rivalry” after the US, for the first time, admitted it had deployed "operational weapons" in Earth's orbit.

“The US push to weaponize outer space and turn it into a battlefield will only intensify the space arms race, make outer space a new arena for rivalry among major powers and ultimately undermine humanity's shared home,” China's Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin told reporters in Beijing.

Jiang was reacting to questions after US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said earlier this month that the US Space Force has “operational weapons” in orbit capable of responding to threats from adversaries, according to Beijing-based daily Global Times.

“China has consistently advocated the peaceful use of outer space and has played a constructive role in safeguarding space security and promoting a community with a shared future for humanity in outer space,” Jiang said.